Our cells have built-in safeguards that help the immune system distinguish the body’s own RNA from foreign RNA, such as RNA produced during a viral infection. Cancer cells can take advantage of these safeguards to avoid immune detection.

Research led by N2CR member Assoc Prof Polly Chen and her team, identified a mechanism that helps cancer cells suppress immune activity. When this mechanism was disrupted, double-stranded RNA accumulated within the cancer cells, triggering an antiviral-like immune response. 

The findings suggest that targeting this mechanism could help make cancer cells more visible to the immune system and may offer a promising new approach to cancer immunotherapy.

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